Dispenser



Aug. 2, 193s.

H. F. JOHNSTON 2,125,572

yDISPENSER Filed July 2, 1936 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1938 PATENTOFFIQE DISPENSER Harold F. Johnston, Waterbury, Conn., assgnor toScovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut Application July 2, 1936, Serial No. 88,521

16 Claims.

My present invention relates to liquid dispensers, adapted to be appliedto the mouth of bottles or containers, so that when applied forms aclosure for the bottle and more particularly v serves as a means wherebylimited quantities of liquid may be discharged, by inverting the bottleand depressing a plunger.

The invention herein disclosed may be regarded as a pressure type ofdispenser which is normally `retained in a closed position but which maybe operated, when the bottle is inverted, by pressing inwardly upon theplunger of the dispenser. The invention is illustrated in a preferredand two modified forms of structures, all of which employ' .a novel formof ilat relatively thin sheet metal leaf type of valve normally retainedin the outlet end of the dispenser, which are operated to open one ormore ports by the action of the piston that carries the leaf valve.

The several forms of dispensers illustrated are designed to be made oflight sheet metal stampings including a cylindrical spring housingadapted to be extended either into or above the neck of a bottle, andwhich together with the other elements of the dispenser is retainedassembled within the cap by a washer which may be made of. cork or othercompressible material, and adapted to form a seal for the bottle asbetween the cap and bottle when the former is applied, thereby producingan assembled dispenser which as such may be packed, transported and soldalong with a bottle of lotion, that is normally sealed with anypreferred form of a stopper, and which when desired for use, the stoppermay be withdrawn and the assembled dispenser screwed on for use.

An object of the invention as incorporated in the preferred structure isthat the ejection of liquid from the dispenser is eifected with thereturn stroke of the plunger rather than with the initial inward strokeof the plunger. This feature naturally tends to keepthe dischargedliquid in a localized area to the better satisfaction of the operatorrather than to be forced out over a larger uncontrolled area as when thedischarge is produced with the inward stroke.

A further object is the fact that in the prel ferred structure arelatively thin leaf spring is held tightly closed over its respectiveports in its normal inactive position, to assure that the valve willprovide a relatively tight liquid seal in case the bottle should becomeaccidentally tipped over or inverted.

My invention further consists in the novel construction and assembly ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportions and minordetails of the structure may be made without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any part of the invention.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a bottle provided withmy preferred form of liquid dispenser,

Fig. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, a detached top plan View of theliquid dispenser shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a central vertical cross sectional View of the dispenser,taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, j;

the piston and its stem being shown as partly pressed in against theaction of. the spring,

Fig. 4 shows a sectional plan view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows a plan View of a modied form of my invention,

Fig. 6 shows a central vertical cross section of the form of dispensershown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows a detached plan View of a ilat sheet metal spring valveshown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 shows a detached plan view of a further modied form of dispenseralso shown in Fig. 9, and

Fig. 9 shows a central vertical cross-section through the dispensershown in Fig. 8 and which is very similar to the preferred form, shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but in this construction the Valve casing andmechanism is disposed above the open end of the bottle instead of withinthe neck of said bottle, and

Fig. 1-0 shows a detached plan view of the plunger, its spring valve andits attached piston shown in Fig. 9.

The expression "pressure type hereinbefore used, implies that when thebottle is inverted the discharge of liquid from the dispenser will occuronly by the exercise of pressure on an element of the dispenser whichcauses the liquid within the valve to be compressed to forcibly closeone valve and open another valve and to be ejected either with theinward stroke of the plunger or with the outward stroke of the plunger,the latter being preferred.

Referring in detail to the reference characters marked upon the drawingI2 represents a bottle shown in Fig. 1, I3 its threaded neck portion,see Fig. 9, and I4 a closure cap having a depending flange portion I 5that is provided with threads I6 to engage the threads on the outersurface of the neck of the bottle and whereby the cap is secured to theneck of the bottle. This cap includes a raised extended portion ITforming a relatively small interior chamber I8; and said portion Il thusforms a sort oi abbreviated nozzle structure to better dispense theliquid. This raised portion il is provided with a series of small liquidoutlet' ports i9 through which the liquid is dispensed and is furtherprovided with a central inwardly i'ianged guide hole 2B to accommodatean outwardly extended operating stem 3S, see Figs. 3

The dispenser also includes a cylindrical housing 2l which is formedseparate as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 whereas in Fig. 9 it is formedintegral with the cap and designated as 2 la. This housing, see Figs. 3and 6, is provided with an outwardly extended annular ilange 22 thatlies against the underside of the top of the cap and is held in positionby a washer 23 which may be formed or" cork or other pliable material.The lower end of this support is provided with an inlet 2i that isnormally covered by a sheet metal valve 25 adapted to be raised andlowered, to open and close theV opening by the action of the piston. Aseparately formed sheet metal bridge 26 having a depending annularflange that ts against the lower inner wall and bottom of the housingserves to form a valve chamber 21 within the lower end of the housing,having an opening therethrough and also serves to form a support for thespring 28. A piston 29 is mounted upon the said spring 28, within theupper end portion of this housing which is preferabiy cylindrical inform and is normally retained in the upper portion of the housing by thebefore mentioned spring.

In Figs. 3 and 9 this piston is shown to 'be provided with a guide stem30 that extends out through the central hole Ztl of the cap and servesas a means for operating the dispenser` l'ihe piston 29 is provided withan annular series of holes 3i which are arranged in spaced relation andthrough which the liquid is ejected but only when uncovered bytheseverai spring leaves 32 of the attached valve member 33 as shown inFigs, 3, 4, 9 and 10. In this connection it will be noted, see Figs. 4l0, I provide a raised nub 34 formed on the top of the piston as betweenthe leaves 32 to prevent relative movement of the leaf valve 33 andinsure the proper registration of the leaves with the holes 3! in thepiston.'

The discharge of liquid takes place in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 9after the stem has been pressed in and when it is released, as duringthe return stroke. In this connection, it' will also be seen that whenthe piston returns to its upper= mest position the valve 25 is raisedwithin its chamber by vsuction and the liquid drawn in so long `as thepiston continues to raise, whereupon the said valve settles,'coveringthe inlet 2&1, trapping a quantity of liquid in the now closed supportpreparatory to a further operation of the piston. When the piston is atits normal uppermost position the leaves of its valve member 33 contactwith the underside of the cap and positively lclose the ports in thepiston, thereby seaiing the bottle.

It should be borne in mind that these valve members 33 and 33a withtheir projected leaves 32 and 32a are made of very light metal, lighterin fact proportionately1 than that shown in the drawing whereV thethickness has been exaggerated ior c'learness and a betterunderstanding. InFigs. 5, 6 and '7 is shown a modiiied form ofdispenser, wherein adiierent form of sheet metal valve is employed. Inthis casei the operating stem 30a and the piston 29a, are formed from asingle shell having an intermediate connecting section 29h, thusproviding a pair of stepped shoulders C and D, as shown in Fig. 6. Thesection 29h slidably engages in the opening 20 in the cap I4 and theports 99a are pierced through the upper shoulder C and travel with thepiston member. The lower shoulder D of the piston abuts the underside ofthe raised portionV ll of the cap as a stop. This sheet metal stem Silais provided with perforations |9a through which the liquid is dispensedand is also obviously adapted to be pressed inward to operate thepiston, the same as in Figs. 3 and 9.

The sheet metal spring valve in this form comprises an Vannular ring 33ahaving an interior concentric flapper 32a connected thereto, prefer ablyin a plane above the plane of the ring 33a as by means of a lateraloffset connecting neck 326. The annular ring 33a of the valve member isheld in place in the piston by being embraced between the lower shouiderD of the piston member and an auxiliary capped shell 34 conned in thelower part of said piston member. The crown of theft-.upped shell has asingle upstanding flanged port which is normally closed by the ilapper32a of the leaf valve. In the operation of this dispenser', the bottleor container rst being inverted, the liquidY in the container willreadily flow past the valve 25 which opens by gravity and iills thechamber within the housing 2l. Upon depressing vthe stem 36a, the valve25 will automatically close and the liquid in the chamber under pressurewill bev forced past the descending flapper to Vill the chamber abovesaid valve and discharge outwardly through the ports l9a. After thecompletion of the manual stroke of the piston, the spring 28 will returnthe ports to normal inactive position.

VA further modified i'orm as disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and l0 is identicalin most respects to the form shown in Fig. 1, except in this case thecylinder 2id is preferably made as an integral part of the screw cap i4and of smaller diameter an extends above the bottle neck i3 aspreviously mentioned. This construction necessitates the use of ametalwasher 35 which is positioned against the interior of the shoulder I4provided at the junction of said cylinder 2`Ia and cap lli and may beheld in rigid assembly as by means of several nibs 36 struck inwardlyfrom the `body of said cap. The washer 35 as shown in Fig. 9, serves notonly as a backing for the sealing washer 23, but also provides theproper support for the bridge member 26. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l, A liquid dispenser of the class described including a closure capadapted for attachment to a container and having a raised top portionwith perforations therethrough, a depending cylindrical member securedto the cap having an inletin itsV lower end, a valve covering the inlet,a piston within the cylinder having means for engagement andoperation, aspring to normally hold the piston inan extended normal position, thesaid piston ,being provided with perforations therethrough, alrelativelyflat valve member secured on the piston and having extended leavesregisteringwith and covering the perforations and adapted to yield anduncover the perforations with movement of the piston.

' kA liquid 'dispenser of the class described including a closure capadapted for attachment to a container and provided with an opening topermit the passage of liquid therethrough, a depending cylindricalmember having an opening in its bottom end, a piston within thecylinder, a check valve carried by said piston, means extending throughthe end of said cap for operating said piston, a sheet metal bridgemember having an opening therethrough and spanning the inlet to thecylinder and including a depending annular flange portion that engagesthe inner wall of the cylinder to support it in spaced relation to thebottom end of the cylinder, a valve member covering thel inlet andengaging the inner wall of the flange portion of the bridge adapted formovement therein to open and close the inlet by the action of thepiston.

3. A liquid dispenser of the class described including a closure capadapted for attachment to a container and provided with an opening topermit the passage of liquid therethrough, a depending cylindricalmember having an opening in its bottom end, a piston having perforationswithin the cylinder, means projecting through the end of said cap foroperating said piston, a spring within the cylinder adapted to normallyforce the piston against the underside of the closure cap, spring meanscarried by the piston adapted to normally close the perforations in thepiston yet adapted to yield against inward pressure upon the piston in amanner to allow fluid to flow from below to the upper portion of thecylinder and thence out through the opening in the cap with the returnspring actuated movement of the piston.

4. In a dispenser of the class described the combination with a closurecap having a perforated raised portion in its crowned end, a cylindricalchamber attached to the crowned end of said cap of a diameter slightlygreater than the diameter of the raised portion, a piston withing thecylinder having perforations therein mounted for reciprocatory action,spring means for closing the perforations in said piston and adapted toengage the under edge portion of the cap surrounding its raisedperforated portion to assure a sealed closure for the perforations inthe piston while in its normal position, an intake check valve in thelower end portion of the cylinder, a spring within the cylinder toactuate the piston, means for operating the piston to actuate the checkvalve and to open and close the perforations in the piston.

5. In a dispenser of the class described the combination with a closurecap having a perforated raised portion in its crowned end, a cylindricalchamber attached to the crowned end of said cap of a diameter slightlygreater than the diameter of the raised portion, a perforated pistonwithin the cylinder having means projecting through the perforatedraised portion of said cap and mounted for reciprocatory movement, anintake check valve in the lower portion of the cylinder, a spring withinthe cylinder to retain the piston in its normal raised position, aleafed spring positioned upon the piston adapted to engage the edgeportion of the cap surrounding the raised portion and thereby hold theleafed spring down upon the perforations of the piston and thus closethe dispenser.

6. A liquid dispenser of the class described, including a closure capadapted for attachment to the mouth of a bottle, said cap including areduced cylinder extending upwardly therefrom and having its upper crownend perforated, an intake check valve retained in the lower end of saidcylinder, a reciprocating piston having ports therethrough Within saidcylinder, means extending through said cap for operating said piston,spring means for actuating said piston in said cylinder, a leaf springmeans forming a valve carried by the piston adapted to normally coverthe ports of the piston, and said piston and associated valve meansadapted to close off the perforations in the crown end of said cylinderwhen the piston is at the end of its upper stroke, said leaf springbeing adapted to function with the operation of the piston to allowliquid to intermittently pass through said ports.

7. A dispenser of the class described including a closure cap havingoutlet perforations therein, a cylinder through which the liquid passesto said outlets carried by said cap, a check Valve in the lower end ofthe cylinder, a piston having an operating means extending through saidcap and mounted for reciprocatory movement in the cylinder and having aport therethrough and a spring leaf valve secured to and carried by thepiston and adapted to open and close the ports with the operation of thepiston.

8. A liquid dispenser of the class described including a closure capadapted for attachment to the mouth of a container and provided with anopening to permit the passage of liquid therethrough, a dependingcylinder having an opening therein, a. piston having a ilat side withone or more perforations therethrough and an extended operating stem, aflat valve of sheet material secured to the flat side of the piston andhaving one or more resilient leaves to cover said perforations, a valvemember covering the opening and adapted to be actuated by the movementof the piston.

9. A liquid dispenser of the class described including a closure caphaving a central opening, a depending cylinder associated therewith andhaving an opening therein, a piston mounted in the cylinder andincluding an integral stem portion extending through the opening of thecap and including perforations, spring means for operating said pistonthe said piston having a port therethrough leading to the stem, a flatvalve member associated with the stem and covering the port in thepiston to insure the ejectment of liquid from the dispenser with thespring actuated movement of the piston.

10. A liquid dispenser of the class described comprising a closure capfor attachment to the mouth of a container and a smaller cylindricalshell carried by said cap and defining an interior chamber, the innerend of said shell having a 4relatively large opening leading into saidcontainer and the opposite end provided with a closure wall having acentral opening with one or more surrounding discharge ports, valvemeans for controlling said large opening, a spring actuated plungermember operating in said chamber having an escape passage and anoperating stem projecting through said central opening of said closurewall, and a flat resilient leaf spring oarried on the upper transversewall of said plunger and normally adapted to be compressed between saidlatter wall and the closure wall of said shell for sealing said passage,said leaf spring adapted to be flexed to open said passage when theplunger is operated in onedirection and to be closed upon said passagewhen said plunger is operated in the opposite direction due to thecompression forces set up in said chamber.

11. A liquid dispenser in combination with a fluid container, includinga closure cap adapted for attachment to a container and havingaconcentric slightly raised portion with perforati'ons in its upperface, a cylindrical member having an inlet in its lower end attached tosaid cap and adapted to project Within the open end of said container,said cylindrical member being of larger diameter than said cap raisedportion, thus providing a stop shoulder at its upper end, a Valvecovering the inlet, a spring operated piston in said cylindrical memberhaving iiuid passages, means projecting through said cap for operatingsaid piston, a flat leaf spring means covering said passages andadaptedto be bent to open said passages when said piston is moved in onedirection and to close said passages when said piston is moved in theopposite direction to force the liquid through the said capperforations.

12. A liquid dispenser in combination with a iluid container, includinga closure cap adapted for attachment to a container and having aconcentric slightly raised portion with perforations in its upper face,a cylindrical member having an inlet in itslower end attached to saidcap and adapted to project within the open end of said container, saidcylindrical member being of larger diameter than said cap raisedportion, thus providing a stop shoulder at its upper end, a valvecovering the inlet, a spring operated piston in said cylindrical memberhaving fluid passages, means projecting through said cap for operatingsaid piston, a flat leaf resilient means attached to said piston by saidoperating means and having a plural number of tongues for individuallycovering each passage in said piston, said resilient means adapted to beopened to permit fluid confined in said chamber to pass through saidpas- Sages when said piston is depressed and to close said passages whensaid piston is retracted and consequently eject the displaced fluidthrough the perforations in said cap raised portion.

13. A liquid dispenser in combination with a fluid container, includinga closure cap comprising an enlarged lower portion adapted fordetachable connection with said container and a reduced cylindricalportion extending upwardly therefrom, providing an intermediateshoulder, said latter portion having exit perforations in its upper end,an intake valve member positioned adjacent the lower end of saidcylindrical portion, means attached to said enlarged portion forsupporting said valve in said cylindrical portion, a plungerv havingHuid passages operating within said reduced portion, a helical springengaging between said plunger andl said intake valve, operating meanscarried by said plunger projecting through the upper end of said reducedportion, and a flat leaf spring means anchored to said plunger andadapted to open and close said passages coincident with the inward andoutward stroke respectively of said plunger, said dispenser being of acharacter whereby the fluid is ejected through said perforations withthe outward stroke of said plunger.

14. A liquid dispenser in combinationwith a fluid container, including aclosure cap comprising an enlarged lower portion adapted for detachableconnection with said container and a vreduced cylindrical portionextending upwardly therefrom providing an intermediate shoulder, theupper end of said reduced portion having a further reduced slightlyprojecting nozzle portion having a concentric inwardly anged openingwith one or more fluid passages .at one side thereof, an intake valvemember positioned at the opposite end of said reduced portion, ra springoperated plunger slidable in saidreduced section and adapted to abuttthe stop shoulder atthe junction of said reduced portion ,and saidnozzle portion, said plunger having fluid openings therethrough, anoperating pin means attached to said plunger and projecting through saidanged opening, and a resilient leaf means anchoredto said plunger bysaid pin and adapted to normally close said openings in said'plunger andto intermittently open and close said .opening upon the operation ofsaid piston and eject fluid through said one or more nozzle passages.

15. A liquid dispenser of the class described including a closure caphaving a central opening, a depending cylinder carried within saidcapand having an intake opening, a spring operated stepped piston mountedin said cylinder and adapted to abutt that portion of the capsurrounding said central opening'as a stop, said pis-r ton including anintegral hollow operating stem extending through said central openingandV having discharge passages, said piston having an interior porttherethrough leading to the stem, and a flat leaf annular spring memberanchored within said piston and having a radial tongue normally closingsaid port and adapted to be flexed to intermittently opened and closedposition coincident with the operation of said piston.

16. A liquid dispenser of the class described including a closure capcomprising a Ythreaded attaching portion and a smooth cylindricalsectioninclosing a chamber having one end closedV with one or more dischargeports therein, a check-valve located at the opposite end of saidchamber, a piston mounted for reciprocatoryv movement in said chamberand having one or more fluid passages therethrough, means extending--through said closed end for operating said piston, a flat leaf` springcarried bysaid piston on the side thereof adjacent the closed end'ofsaidchamber for normally covering said one or more passages,Y

and a tension spring interposed between said piston and said check Valvefor normally urging Said piston against said closed end and causing saidleaf spring to firmly seat upon said passages and assure a leak proofdispenser when not inuse.

HAROLD F. JOHNSTON.

